After a go-ahead from the RSS, the BJP has decided to hold a meeting of its Parliamentary Board on Friday on the issue of declaring Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha polls despite opposition from L K Advani and some other senior leaders.

Advani, who is the stumbling block in the announcement, has maintained Modi's projection would hurt BJP's campaign against UPA over issues like corruption and price rise as the focus would be on Modi.

While Advani has not said anything publicly on the issue, his close associate Sudheendhra Kulkarni had attacked Modi, describing him as a "polarising leader" in the society as well as the party and questioned his ability as a Prime Minister to run a stable and effective government.

"A socially polarising leader has polarised his own party. Can he run a smooth, stable and effective government at the Centre? think seriously!" Kulkarni said on Twitter about Modi without naming him.

Leaders belonging to the Modi camp insist his name be declared at the earliest. This created a pressure on Singh to reach as wide a consensus as possible and announce Modi as the PM candidate.